Ejector for addressing and other machines



P 1929- B. z. MCCAIN ET AL. 1,729,116

EJECTOR FOR ADDRESSING AND OTHER MACHINES Filed March 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a ,f jf 0.7 2

Sept. 24, 1929. B. 2. M CAIN ET AL 1,729,116

EJECTOR FOR ADDRESSING AND OTHER MACHINES Filed March 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented S ept. 24,1929" UNITE TA ES A CORPORATION 01* DELAWARE BENJAMIN zqiuco'nm, or on: PARK, AND HERBERT L. 'rnoiurson, or EL'GIN, ILBL NOIS, ASSIGNORS 'ro ADDRESSOGR-APH COMPANY, or wrmrmeron, DELAWARE,

EJECTOR FOR ADDRESSING AND OTHER "MACHINE S Application filed March 14,1928. Serial No. 261,608..

This invention relates to ejectors for discharging the work from an. addressing or other machine for which the invention is or may be adapted and its object. is to provide 3 an ejector of simple construction which will operate .efiiciently to discharge the work quickly and immediately after-the printing o'r other operation of the machineis completed. v v

In addressing machines it is desirable to provide as much time as possible forfeed ing the envelops or other articles to be printed .into printing position, and this makes it likewise desirable to discharge the envelop quick- .1 5 ly as possible after it has been printed. This is true with respect to printing machines in general, foldlng, seal ng and other mach nes for. wh ch the invention 1s adapted. Therefore, 1t .18 a prime ob ect of the invention to 2 0 provide quick acting means which operate immediately after the printing operation is completed forejecting the work from the ma chine in a snappy movement.

The invention also hasffor its object to provide I a pneumatically operated ejector which is simple in construction, comprises but few parts and which can be easily-applied to a machine without involving much ifany, change in the standard construction thereof.

And a further object of the inventionis' to provide an ejector which can be easily and quickly adjusted for ejecting the work at either side of the machine. e 1

In the accompanying drawings We have chosen a simple form of power operated addressing machine merely to illustrate the in-' vention'and without any intention of limiting orrestricting the invention thereto, and referring to the drawings, a Fig. 1 is an elevation, partlyin section, showing parts of a poweroperated addressin machine with our invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2"2 of Fig. 1. a Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view 'on the line of Fig. 1. 1 Fig. 39isa plan view .of apart ofthe ad dressing machine showing the invention thereon.

Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of apart of the invention. Y

F 'g. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings 6 designates generallythe frameof the machine,-7 is the platen, 8 is the stamper, arm pivotedon the frame at 9 and 10 is a stack of printing; devices in a magazine 11 andadapted to be fed one at a time to printing position by suitable means, not shown. I V.

A rocker 12 is pivotally mounted at.13.on the frame of the machineandis oscillated by any suitable powermeans, or by a foot pedal.

An arm 14 is pivoted at 13 and carries a cam 15 which engages av rollerl5 on the lower end of the stamper' arm .8. A spring pressed pawl 16 on the rocker 12 normally engages the arm 14 to cause this arm and the stamper arm to operate at each operation of the rocker, but a release device 17 connected with the selector mechanism of the machine is adapted to depress the pawl 16 whenever a printing device is to be skipped to prevent thepawl from operating the arm 14 and the jstamper arm while this printing device is passing through printing position. :This structure is commonly employed in certain types of addressing machines and further description thereof is unnecessary,

An air pump 18 is .detachably secured by set screws 19 or othersuitable means on a part of the frame of the machine and it is provided on the machine by a set screw 31. A spring 23on the piston rod 23 normally holds the ejector foot,22 in retracted position at one side of printing pos tiflm A and engaging an enveloporother article B ,on the supporting plateC, Fig. 3%. r V I I he cylinderf25 is connected by a hose .32

with a port slot 33 in the vacuum pump cylinder. A valve chamber 34 at one side of the cylinder 18 has a spring pressed ball valve 35 which engages a seat 36 in a passage 37 leading to the slot 38 at the inner end of the air pump cylinder 18. The ball valve chamber has an exhause outlet 39. A plunger 40 is guided in a part of the air pump cylinder and is arranged to be operated by the cam end of the arm 14 to unseat the ball valve 35 and permit the vacuum in the cylinder to be relieved through the exhaust port 39. One or more relief openings 41 are provided in the cylinder between the port slot 33 and the outer end of the cylinder.

In one complete cycle of operation of the machine a printing device is fed to printing position, the rocker 12 oscillates, the piston 20 travels inward to a position beyond the port slot 33 and back again, the cam 15 on the arm 14 causes the stamper arm to reciprocate and make an impression from the printingdevice upon an envelop in printing position, and the vacuum caused by the return move ment of the piston 20 operates the ejector piston 24 and the ejector foot, which engages the envelop, to shoot the envelop off to one side of the machine into a receptacle D, Fig. 3, in a quick snappy movement, after which the spring 23 returns the ejector foot and the ejector piston quickly to normal retracted position. On the inward stroke of the air piston 20 the air in the cylinder escapes through the relief opening 41 and the passage 37, ball valve chamber 34 and exhaust port 39, and the piston travels to a position be tween the slots and 38. On the return movement of the air piston 20 the ball valve closes and a vacuum is created within the cyl inder which operates as soon as the piston passes the port slot 33 to cause the operation of the ejector foot, as previously described. The port slot 33 is of considerable length to provide an instant opening of suitable area to the suction tube 32 for producing quick operation of the ejector foot. Immediately after the ejector is operated the piston passes the relief hole 41 so that the vacuum is relieved and the spring 23 is permitted to return the ejector piston and foot tonormal retracted position. On each return movement of the cam arm 14 the plunger 40 is caused" to unseat the ball valve 35 so that the cylinder is always open for the escape of air on the forward stroke of the air piston and when the cam arm moves away from the plunger the pressure created by the forward movement of the piston within the cylinder will be suflicient to hold the ball valve open for the escape of air from the cylinder. But if a printing device is to be skipped the cam arm will not operate and the ball valve will be held? unseated by the plunger through the full forward stroke of the piston and also through the full return stroke of the piston so that no vacuum is created in the air pump cylinder and the ejector will not be operated. The ejector is thus controlled in its operation by the selector mechanism of the machine through its control of the stamper arm in a manner familiar in this type of machine.

The invention is adapted to eject the printed envelop or other article from the machine as soon as the pressure of the platen is re moved therefrom so that ample time will be allowed for feeding an envelop into printing position by hand with the machine operating at a relatively high rate of speed. The envelop is registered in printing position against the gage bar 30 and the ejector foot 22 which may be adjusted by the set screws 29 and 31 to accommodate envelops of different sizes and for other purposes. The angular rod 27 for supporting the ejector is secured by the screw 29 in a split socket 29 adjacent one end of the gage bar; and another split socket 42 and adjusting screw 43 are provided at the other end of the gage bar for receiving the angular rod 2750 that the ejector may be arranged on either side of printing position for ejecting the envelop at either side of the machine. To permit this change of position of the ejector the air connection between the pump and the ejector cylinder is made with a flexible hose 32 of su'liicient length to reach to either side of the machine.

We have described the invention in a simple form which is suitable for the purpose and which can be easily applied to addressing machines of different constructions now in use as well as to other addressing machines and to folding, sealing and like machines for which it is or may be adapted. Also, we have described the invention as applied to an addressing machine operated by power and provided with selector mechanism, which is now well known in different types or models in commercial use, but it can be used in connectionrwith a pedal or hand operated machine.

We reserve the right to make all such changes in the form, construction and ar rangement of parts as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

lVe claim:

1. An ejector for addressing and other machines comprising a reciprocably operated member, a foot to engage the work and pneumatic means for operating said foot, said pneumatic means comprising a pump cylinder, a piston operating in said cylinder, and means controlled by said member for causing said pneumatic means to operate the foot and eject the work upon the return movement of said member.

2. An ejector for addressing and other machines comprising a selectively operated member, a foot to engage the work, and pneumatic means for operating said foot, said pneumatic means comprising a pumpcylinder, apiston operating in said cylinder at each cycle of operation ofthe machine, and means controlled by the operation of said member for causing said pneumatic means to operate the foot and eject the work only when said member operates.

3. An ejector for addressing and other machines comprising i a selectively operated member, a foot to engage the work, and pneumatic means for operating said foot, said pneumatic means comprising a pump cylinder, a piston operating in said cylinder at each cycle of operation of the machine, and means controlled by the operation of said member for causing said pneumatic means to operate the foot and eject the work upon the valve for permitting escape of air.

return movement of said member.

' 4:. An ejector foraddressing and other machines comprising a reciprocably operated member, a foot to engage the work, and pneumatic means controlled by said member for operating said foot, said pneumatic means comprising a pump cylinder, a piston operating in said cylinder at each cycle of operation of, the machine, a valve for permitting escape oi'air from the cylinder on the forward stroke of the piston, and means for automatically closing said valve to enable for operating the foot to eject the Work.

, der, a piston operating in said cylinder, a

6. An ejector for addressing and other ma-' chines comprising a reciprocably operated member, a foot to engage the work, and pneumatic means for operating said foot, said pneumatic means comprising a pump cylinvalve held open by said member during the forward stroke of the piston to permit escape of air from the cylinder, and means for closing said valve to permit the piston to form a Vacuum in said cylinder when the member operates to cause the foot to eject the work uponthe return movement of said member.

7. An ejector for addressing and other machines comprising a reciprocably operated member, afoot to engage the work, and pneumatic means for operating said foot, said pneumatic means comprising a pump cylinder, a piston operating in said cylinder, a spring pressed exhaust valve at the head end of the cylinder, a plunger operated by said member for holding saidvalve open during the forward stroke of the piston and permitting said valve to close when said member operates for forming-a vacuum in said cylinder on the return stroke of the plston, an

-meansintermediate of the foot and the cylinder to cause said foot to be operated by the vacuum in the cylinder to eject the work.

8. An ejector for addressing and other machines comprising a reciprocably operated member, a foot to engage thework, and pneumatic means for operating said foot, said pneumatic means comprising a pump cylinder, a piston operating in said cylinder, means controlled by said lTlQlTllJQl for forming a vacuum in the cylinder only when said member operates, and means intermediate of said foot and said cylinder to cause the foot;

to be operated by the vacuum in the cylinder to eject the work.

9. An ejector for addressing and other machines comprising a reciprocably operated member, a foot to engage the Work, and pneumatic means for operating said foot, said pneumatic means comprising a pump cylinder, a spring pressed valve connected to said cylinder and controlled by said member for permitting exhaust of air from the cylinder upon the forward stroke of the piston and permitting a vacuum to be formed in the cylinder on the return stroke of the piston, a connection between said cylinder and the foot to cause the foot to be operated by the vacuumv in the cylinder to eject the work, and said cylinder having an opening to relieve the vacuum in the cylinder immediately after the foot has operated.

10. An ejector for addressing and other ma-.

chines comprising an operating member, a foot to engage the work, a cylinder, a spring pressed piston operating in said cylinder, a piston. rodcarry-ing said foot, and pneumatic means for operating said pistonto cause the;

foot to ejectthe work.

11. An ejector for addressing and other machines comprising an operating member, a foot to engage the Work, a cylinder, a spring pressed piston in said cylinder, a piston rod;

carrying said foot, and pneumatic means for creating a vacuum n sald cylinder to operate the piston and cause the foot to e ect the work.

12. An ejector for addressing and other machines compr sing an operatmg member, a

foot to engage the WOIlQiL cylinder, a spring pressed piston operating in the cylinder, a piston rod carrying the foot, a pump cylinder, a connection between said cylinder and said pump cylinder, a piston operating in said pump cylinder, and means controlled by said member for forming a vacuum in said pump cylinder to cause said foot to operate and eject the work.

13. An ejector for addressing and other machines comprising an ejector foot, a bar adapted to be secured on the machine,

clamping means spaced apart on said bar,

and a rod for supporting said foot and adapt-i ed to be engaged interchangeably with said clamping means.

14. An ejector for addressing and other machines comprising an ejector foot, a gage bar adjustably mounted on the machine, clamping means spaced apart on said gage bar, and an angular rod adapted to he engaged interchangeably with said clan'iping means for supporting the foot on either side of printing position.

BENJAMIN Z. MCCAIN. HERBERT L. THOMPSON. 

